Seating unit with components controllable by a control device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a seating unit consisting of at least one seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, with movable components such as backrest, seat element, and leg rest which may be controlled by a control device ( 10 ) having at least one control element ( 20 ), and having at least one arm rest surface ( 16 ). In that the control device ( 10 ) is mounted in the area of the one-hand zone on the arm rest surface ( 16 ) and is configured as a control console having a control surface ( 12 ) inclined in relation to the respective control element ( 20 ), and in that the inclination selected for the control surface ( 12 ) is such that hand-eye coordination is facilitated, distinct increase in the comfort of the seat occupant is achieved and ergonomic considerations are taken fully into account.

The invention relates to a seating unit consisting of at east one seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, having movable components such as backrest, seat element, and leg rest for example which may be controlled by a control device having at least one control element and having at least one arm rest surface.

Seats as thus outfitted enable an aircraft passenger, a first-class or business-class passenger in particular, to assume a seated position as desired, an automatic seat adjustment feature moving the seat components to assume the relative positions desired after operation of the control device. The disclosed solutions involve a control device either entirely separate from the seat, in the form of a remote-control unit, which, after being operated by the aircraft passenger, transmits the corresponding control data, optionally also by wireless means, to corresponding positioning drives or their control element. In other disclosed solutions available on the market a control device may be pivoted from an arm rest or other components present on the seat by way of a gooseneck or other suitable pivoting devices and is then available to the aircraft passenger for control of the seat components of the seat which he occupies.

DE-C-102 20 248 describes an aircraft passenger seat outfitted with seat components such as a seat element, a backrest, and a leg rest the position of which, especially their angle of inclination in relation to the others, may be adjusted. The disclosed solution has a control unit with at least one, preferably manually operated, control component.

In one embodiment of the disclosed solution the control device has a cable connection which effects connection to the operating unit of the seat adjustment kinematic system. The control device has several operating buttons each of which is associated with a specific adjusted seat position. In an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed solution the control system has an external operating unit but one which is connected to the seat by way of a cable connection. In accordance with the disclosed solution additional provision may be made such that an additional functional element is provided in the arm rest which element permits a seat adjustment process to be carried out for the entire seat, that is, unintentional initiation of a seat adjustment process by inadvertent operation of the control unit may be prevented by operation of this additional functional element.

DE-A-101 38 926 discloses a seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, having a seat element, an adjustable-tilt backrest, and at least one arm rest pivot-mounted on the backrest. A mechanical adjustment system is used in the disclosed solution to carry the arm rest along continuously as the tilt of the backrest increases or decreases. In the solution disclosed all essential components of a seat, such as backrest, seat element support with seat component, and the respective arm rest surface of the associated arm rest, are adjusted simultaneously in relation to each other so that a high degree of seating comfort is achieved and long-distance flights may be completed by a seat occupant with less stress and under ergonomically favorable conditions. Each adjustment of the tilt of the backrest is accompanied in the disclosed solution by adjustment of the tilt of the arm rest, so that an ergonomically favorable support angle is always established between the torso of the seat occupant and the parts of the passenger=s arms placed on the arm rest. The control units disclosed in the foregoing are used to initiate the movement.

On the basis of this prior art the object of the invention is creation of a seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, which increases the comfort of the seat occupant while retaining the advantages of the prior art, in particular creation of an ergonomic and space-saving and cost-effective control unit for such a seat. The object as thus described is attained by means of a seat having the characteristics specified in patent claim 1 in its entirety.

In that, as specified in the characterizing part of patent claim 1, the control unit is mounted in the one-hand area on the arm rest surface and is configured as a control console having an inclined control surface with the respective control element, and in that the inclination selected for the control surface is such that hand-eye coordination is facilitated, distinct increase in the comfort of the seat occupant is achieved, and ergonomic concerns are taken into account to the fullest extent. The one-hand zone permits ergonomically effortless access by the seat occupant to the control field of the control device configured as a console, so that sure hand-eye coordination is obtained in virtually every seat position, even in the event of a rough drive or flight; this imparts a feeling of security to the seat occupant, during a flight in particular, since as operator he has operation of his seat and any additional components Aunder control.@ Since operation in the one-hand zone takes place with arm largely outstretched, as is determined by the seat in assumption of the resting position, the operation is to this extent perceived to be relaxing, and this increases overall travel comfort. Operation of control devices in the one-hand zone is considered to be reliable because of the improved hand-eye coordination, so that operating errors are largely eliminated.

The control device is configured as a control console in the area of the free front end of the arm rest surface and on top of the latter. As a result, the control device is mounted so as to save space merely by modification of a component already present (the arm rest surface). Configuration as a control console facilitates both clear visibility and the operation of the control elements of the control device.

In one especially preferred embodiment of the invention the arm rest surface of the seating unit is a part of an arm rest mounted so as to be stationary or movable obliquely downward with increase in the forward tilt of the backrest. In these embodiments an ergonomically favorable support angle is always established between the torso of the seat occupant and parts of his arms positioned on the arm rest surface, even if the control device moves away from him because of the oblique lowering of the arm rest surface, but remains in the ergonomically favorable one-hand zone because of the console characteristics with preferably inclined control field.

In another preferred embodiment of the seating unit claimed for the invention the inclination of the control surface encloses an obtuse angle, approximately 120° to 150°, preferably approximately 140°, with the upper side of the arm rest surface. This embodiment, also used for control consoles, makes a considerable contribution to ergonomics. The control elements of the control device can be operated comfortably with the fingers, the index and ring fingers in particular, also when the wrist is resting on the arm rest surface, even if the arm rest surface is lowered obliquely forward in a rest position.

In another preferred embodiment of the solution claimed for the invention at least two seats of a seating unit mounted side by side in a row have a common arm rest surface. The control surface of the control device positioned on the common arm rest surface is divided into two control fields each of which is associated with one seat of the adjacent seats. Lateral inclination of the control fields toward a given seat occupant may be provided in addition for the purpose of facilitating clear visibility and operability by the respective seat occupant. The control fields of adjacent seats are preferably configured as mirror images in relation to a central plane between the two seats.

In one especially preferred embodiment of the solution claimed for the invention the control field has as respective control element a control key which may be associated with a specified configuration of the adjustable components of the respective seat. Such control keys may or may not be provided with a tangible and/or audible key click, but configurations in the form of foil keyboards are also possible, ones optionally provided with the so-called Asnap disk@ effect. Foil keyboards such as these permit wide freedom in configuration of their layout, especially the form of the individual control elements and the coloration. This makes a cost-effective and yet individually configurable solution possible. In that a control element may be associated with a specified configuration of the individual components of the respective seat, the seat occupant is afforded a very comfortable option of selecting each of the individual configurations by pressing of a single key. A solution such as this in particular allows selection of special configuration on takeoff, on landing, for a position at rest, etc.

In another preferred embodiment, the solution claimed for the invention has another control element on the control field which allows a memory function. This enables the seat occupant, for example, during the process of transferring from one specified configuration of the adjustable seat components to another specified configuration, to activate the memory function in an intermediate position and thus to store a configuration of the adjustable seat components comfortable to him which differs from the specified configurations and to restore this individual configuration at any time by recalling the memory function.

In another preferred embodiment of the solution claimed for the invention the control field has offset areas with control elements which permit subdivision into various function levels. For example, especially important configurations of the adjustable seat components, such as for takeoff and landing, are made possible by distinctive coloring and suitable arrangement of individual control elements.

In another special embodiment of the solution claimed for the invention the control field is configured to be rectangular, preferably square, or is in the form of a parabola open in the direction of the arm rest surface. In particular, the parabolic shape open in the direction of the arm rest surface fits harmoniously into the overall design of conventional arm rests and results in reduced risk of injury in that sharp edges and/or corners are avoided. A control field such as this, or one rectangular or square in shape configured as console element, in addition provides assistance to the seat occupant in being seated and leaving the seat.

The seating unit claimed for the invention is described in detail in what follows on the basis of two exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which FIGS. 1 and 2 present, in the form of schematic diagrams not drawn to scale, a section of an arm rest of a seating unit configured as claimed for the invention, FIG. 1 showing a perspective view not drawn to scale of an arm rest 14 with arm rest surface 16 and a control device 10 claimed for the invention. The seat as such, backrest, seat element, and leg rests are not shown, since they are known and are not essential for illustration of the solution claimed for the invention. The control device 10 is configured in FIG. 1 as a control console which is mounted in the area of the free front end on the upper side of the arm rest surface 16. The control device 10 is in the so-called one-hand zone and can be reached easily by the seat occupant; it is also clearly visible and the control elements 20 of the control device 10 are easy to operate. The control device 10 has several control elements 20 which are positioned in one or two control fields 18 which make up the control surface 12. In FIG. 1 the control device is configured as a so-called control console; the angle designated as a in FIG. 1, which characterizes the inclination of the control surface in relation to the upper side of the arm rest surface, is an obtuse angle the value of which falls within the range of approximately 120° to 150°, by preference approximately 140°. A configuration such as this enables the seat occupant to view and operate the control device in comfort and in an ergonomically expedient manner.

The arm rest surface 16 may be part of an arm rest 14 mounted on the seat so as to be stationary or part of a movable arm rest 14 which is lowered obliquely as the inclination of the backrest increases. As viewed in the line of sight to FIG. 1 the arm, the elbow in particular, is rested on the horizontal part of the arm rest surface 16. In the direction of the hand the free end of the arm rest surface 16 undergoes transition to the inclined control surface 12, as is shown in FIG. 1, in the form of a parabola opened downward, that is, in the direction of the elbow, the top of the parabola being positioned on the outermost end of the free end of the arm rest surface in the direction of flight. The center line 22 shown in FIG. 1 represents the parabola axis of the parabola in question in the area of the control device 10.

If only one control device is associated with a seat, the control surface 12 has one control field 18; if the control surface 12 positioned at the end of a center console between two seats has the function of controlling the two adjacent seats, the control surface 12 has two control fields 18 each of which is associated with one seat.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the solution claimed for the invention, similar designations being used to designate similar components as in the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In this instance the control device 110 is mounted in a rectangular molding of the arm rest surface 116. Recessed areas 122 inside the installation frame 124 assemble individual control elements 120 in groups. The center line 122 illustrates the symmetry of the configuration shown. The inclination of the control surface 122 in relation to the arm rest surface 116 is described by angle α=, which is somewhat smaller than angle α shown in FIG. 1; the result is a somewhat steeper configuration of the control surfaces 112. The embodiment shown here with an individual installation frame 124 for each seat may be reduced by simple means on arm rests 116 which require only one control field 118. Consequently, with a seating unit consisting of three seats it is possible to mount a configuration between two of the seats as shown in FIG. 2, while a seat remaining on the edge, with one control device 110, may be provided with a single installation frame 124.

The one-hand zone claimed in the present application is intended to represent the two-dimensional and three-dimensional area through which a seat occupant can move his arm adjacent to the control device 10, 110 after being seated without essentially changing the seat position, the outer limit of the one-hand zone being defined by the maximum reach of the arm which is to operate the control device. An especially cost-effective embodiment may be obtained in production of the seating unit by producing the housing 23, 123 of the console-like control device 10, 110 as a shell component as one piece from the total arm rest including the arm rest surface 16, 116. Consequently, only the control surface 12, 112 of the control device 10, 110 need be introduced into the specified housing, along with the necessary cabling and electronics (not shown). The seating unit as claimed, with the respective control device, may accordingly be obtained by cost-effective means. 

1. A seating unit consisting of at least one seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, having movable components such, for example, as backrest, seat component, and leg rest, which may be controlled by a control device (10, 110) having at least one control element (20, 120) and having at least one arm rest surface (16, 116), characterized in that the control device (10, 110) is mounted in the area of the one-hand zone on the arm rest surface (16, 116) and is configured as a console having a control surface (12, 112) inclined in relation to the respective control element (20, 120), and in that the inclination selected for the control surface (12, 112) is such that hand-eye coordination is facilitated.
 2. The seating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control console is mounted in the area of the free front end of the arm rest surface (16, 116) and on the upper side of this surface.
 3. The seating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm rest surface (16, 116) is part of an arm rest mounted on the seat so as to be stationary or part of a movable arm rest which is lowered obliquely toward the front with increase in the inclination of the backrest.
 4. The seating unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inclination of the control surface (12, 112) encloses an obtuse angle, in particular an angle of approximately 120° to 150°, by preference approximately 140°, with the upper side of the arm rest surface (16, 116).
 5. The seating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two seats mounted side by side in a row have a common arm rest surface (16, 116) or adjacent adjoining arm rest surfaces (16, 116) associated with one seat, and wherein there is present a control device (10, 110) associated with each seat, the control field (18, 118) of which control device (10. 110) is mounted as a mirror image in relation to a central plane between the two seats.
 6. The seating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control field (18, 118) has as respective control element (20, 120) a control key which may be associated with a specified configuration of the adjustable components of the respective seat.
 7. The seating unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control field (18, 118) in addition has a control element (20, 120) for a memory function.
 8. The seating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control field (18, 118) has offset areas with control elements (20, 120) which permit subdivision into various function levels.
 9. The seating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the control field (18, 118) is configured to be rectangular, preferably square, or is in the form of a parabola open in the direction of the arm rest surface (16, 116).
 10. The seating unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing (23, 123) of the control console is configured as a stationary handle making it easier for the seat occupant to be seated or leave the seat. 